PW’s Week Ahead: 01.13.12

The rallying cry from Republican presidential candidates this winter is an echo of Ronald Reagan’s famous line that “government is not a solution to our problem – government is the problem.” That’s also a sentiment some publishers subscribe to, and they are taking the cause to Capitol Hill.

“This week, an intense discussion kicked up over a bill called the Research Works Act, which was introduced on December 16,” PW’s Andrew Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “It is a brief bill, but it would have wide ramifications, as it would bar federal government agencies from mandating that taxpayer-funded research be made freely available to the public.” For PW’s news section, Albanese adds, the main feature is also right from the campaign trail – a look at forthcoming election year political books.

PW reviews editor Rose Fox gives the good word on a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sequel, and looks forward to Interrupted: A Life Beyond Words, an emotionally compelling and psychologically nuanced story of an adopted girl in Depression-era Maine, by 15-year-old debut author Rachel Coker.

Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.